Wire EDM slices through tungsten, molybdenum

Specialist subcontractor is using a wire EDM machine to erode complex forms and difficult-to-machine shapes in materials such as tungsten and molybdenum.

Specialist subcontractor is using a wire EDM machine to erode complex forms and difficult-to-machine shapes in materials such as tungsten and molybdenum.

Specialist subcontractors Cambridge Electron Beam, with extensive expertise in the art and science of welding exotic materials, is using a Sodick wire EDM machine to erode complex forms and difficult-to-machine shapes in materials such as tungsten and molybdenum.

The father and son company, which was formed in 1978 as a welding subcontractor, has continued to develop its expertise and is now largely involved in sub-contracting using electron beam welding machines.

The work involves the manufacture of a range of small components for temperature sensors and also parts used in the manufacture of semiconductor materials such as Gallium Nitride.

Gallium Nitride is grown in very extreme conditions, including temperatures of up to 1500 deg C, and the heaters from Cambridge Electron Beam are used for this purpose.

The manufacture of the components is challenging, not only because of the materials used, but also the geometry of the parts, for example one small tungsten item of approximately 12mm x 6mm has a 1mm wide slot in the base and a U-shaped prong at the top as well as small notches along one side.

Originally the company used to sub-contract out this work, but now they keep the whole process in-house using the Sodick machine.

Managing Partner, Tim Burns, comments, "The tolerances that we are working to are well within the capabilities of this Sodick A500W machine, we dont have any trouble with it - it just gets on and does the job.

We must be pleased with it, we have just ordered another.

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